The Edmonton Oilers are officially on the clock starting this summer, what with Connor McDavid’s two-year, bargain-basement extension kicking in. The Oilers are still nursing the wounds of a first-round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, but changes are already underway in Edmonton, with Kris Knoblauch the first man out the door.
Oilers management is looking to retool the roster and strengthen the top-six forward group. New developments suggest Edmonton could be gaining traction in its pursuit of a high-profile winger who is reportedly seeking a contract valued at $70 million.
Jimmy Murphy Suggests Oilers Target Alex Tuch’s Massive Contract Demands May Finally Be Cooling
Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch is swiftly becoming one of the most talked-about names connected to Edmonton ahead of free agency.
Tuch is coming off another productive campaign after posting 66 points in 79 games while also touching the 200-goal milestone, after scoring 33 goals. His combination of size, physical play, and offensive production has made him an attractive option for contenders searching for a reliable top-line winger.
Earlier in the season, reports indicated that Tuch’s camp was targeting a contract similar to Adrian Kempe’s recent extension with the Los Angeles Kings. Kempe signed an 8-year contract worth $85 million, carrying a $10.625 million cap hit, and several insiders suggest Tuch’s representatives view that deal as a realistic benchmark.
In October last year, NHL insider David Pagnotta reported that league executives believed the star winger could command “north of $11 million, and maybe closer to $12 million” annually on the open market.
However, a 7-year contract carrying a $10 million annual cap hit is generally seen as the base, which would place the total valuation around $70 million. One factor behind this number is Tuch being on a milk carton in the series against the Montreal Canadiens.
Recent comments from NHL insider Jimmy Murphy introduced a very different tone surrounding Tuch’s expectations for his next payday. While reacting to continued discussion about Tuch’s next contract, Murphy posted on X, “Seriously, is ESPN NHL crew getting a cut out of Alex Tuch’s next contract? Wow!”
After Tuch went goalless in a Game 7 elimination against Montreal, Murphy followed up by writing, “Term and pay just went way down.” Tuch finished the series with no goals and a minus-9 as Buffalo was knocked out by Montreal.
Murphy’s comments could represent encouraging news for Edmonton, especially considering the Oilers are projected to have limited cap flexibility this summer.
But before adding another premium forward, the organization still needs to address depth scoring, defensive support, and roster balance after surrendering 25 goals during the playoff series against Anaheim. Connor Ingram also struggled in net, finishing the postseason with a 3.86 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage.
Because of these issues, Edmonton likely cannot justify committing Kempe-level money to another forward without major roster changes. Darnell Nurse’s $9.25 million cap hit has already surfaced in league speculation as a possible contract Edmonton could explore moving if the team wants to create meaningful flexibility.
Still, Tuch remains an appealing fit because of the style he brings to a contender. The Oilers have long searched for a winger capable of handling physical playoff hockey while still producing offensively alongside elite centers.
If Murphy’s comments accurately reflect a softer market than originally expected, Edmonton’s pursuit of Tuch could suddenly become far more realistic heading into July 1.
